Postpartum Hair Loss

What is postpartum hair loss or the technical term telogen effluvium ? Excessive hair loss sometimes occurs in the months after the delivery of your baby usually spiking around the 3 to 4 month period. This mainly occurs due to the increased level of estrogen causing a lot more hair follicles to enter the resting stage.

During pregnancy the first hormone to spike is human chorionic gonadotropin, better known as HCG. Also estrogen progesterone oxytocin and prolactin along with your blood volume increases. Afterbirth you these hormones drop quickly including estrogen and progesterone returning back to normal sometimes within 24 hours. Although prolactin will stay has long as you're breast-feeding. In my personal opinion I feel breast-feeding could delay postpartum hair loss due to the fact that progesterone is high to suppress your lactation during pregnancy but after birth this drops to allow you to nurse the baby while prolactin an estrogen rise to encourage your milk let down and suppress your menstrual cycle while you're nursing.

Though all women experience the return of their cycle different times throughout my experience behind the chair I've encountered many women going through postpartum hair loss alongside having three children of my own which all my research has led me to believe the postpartum hair loss usually coincides with the return of the menstrual cycle in return of normal hormone level. During pregnancy high levels of estrogen prevented the usual rate of hair loss this decrease is aided by your increased blood volume and circulation.

So now we know how the hormones can affect your hair loss now let's discuss what we can do about it!

While the hormone factor is a key element in postpartum hair loss there's a few other things to take into consideration.

Among the highest of these things happens to be stress and who isn't stressed after bringing home an infant. Second on the list is low sleep and again how many of us are getting a lot of rest with a crying new baby around?

Then comes the lovely ponytails and mom buns we all tend to just throw your hair up in those months following the birth of our Littles but the stress of a ponytail and the weight of the hair definitely doesn't help our issues with hair loss. That's why I often recommend to my clients to do low braids or low ponytails when they tend to work out due to the fact that the weight of the hair isn't supported high up leading to breakage.

Rapid weight loss can also cause hair loss along with high fevers, high vitamin A content, low iron and thyroid disease which we will cover in a separate blog post.

Another thing to keep in mind is what our hair is made of.... protein!

Hair is made of protein and when you don't get enough your body rations it by shutting down the production of nonessential protein including hair growth. Hair loss is noticeable 2 to 3 months after the protein intake drops below requirements. The CDC recommends 10 to 35% of our daily calorie intake come from protein, which equals 46 to 56 g in an adult.

Sources of Protein

Protein can be found in most foods including: dairy products, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, beans, grains, soy products, and small amounts in vegetables and fruits. A 1 oz. serving of foods from the protein group provides around 7 to 8 g of protein. Based on My Pyramid, a 1 oz. serving equivalent includes: 1 oz. meat, fish or poultry; 1 egg; 1 tbsp. peanut butter; ½ oz. nuts or seeds; or ¼ cup dried beans and peas.

So how do I get my protein?

Here are 10 vegan sources :

1. Veggies: Yep, good old greens will pack a protein punch. One cup of cooked spinach has about 7 grams of protein. The same serving of French beans has about 13 grams. Two cups of cooked kale? 5 grams. One cup of boiled peas? Nine grams. You get the idea. 2. Hemp. No, you don’t have to get high to get your protein. But toss 30 grams of hemp powder in your smoothie and get about 11 grams of protein – just like that.

3. Non-Dairy Milk. Got (soy) milk? A mere 1 cup of soy or almond milk can pack about 7-9 grams of protein. Eat with some fortified cereal and you’ve got a totally vegan-friendly breakfast.

4. Nut Butter. Eat up your peanut butter, almond butter and cashew butter. A couple of tablespoons of any one of these will get you 8 grams of protein.

5. Quinoa. I kinda think quinoa is God’s gift to vegans (and gluten-free peeps!), as it’s versatile, delicious and delivers about 9 grams of protein per cup.

6. Tofu. Four ounces of tofu will get you about 9 grams of protein. And at about 2 bucks a pop, it’s a cheap vegan’s BFF. 7. Lentils. With lentils, you can make rice dishes, veggie burgers, casseroles and more. One cup cooked delivers a whopping 18 grams of protein!

8. Beans. They really are the magical fruit. With one cup of pinto, kidney or black beans, you’ll get about 13-15 grams of protein, a full belly and heart-healthy fiber. 9. Tempeh. One cup of tempeh packs abour 30 grams of protein! That’s more than 5 eggs or a regular hamburger patty.

10. Sprouted-grain bread. Pack a sandwich with vegan sprouted-grain bread and you’ll get about 10 grams of protein in the bread alone.

Want to learn more... http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/protein

Other foods that are good for hair health include: Dark leafy greens that are high in iron and vitamin C

Sweet potatoes and carrots for beta carotene

Vitamin D obtained from the sun tofu and mushrooms

And Omega 3's ...here's a breakdown on them and how they can be obtained

Omega-3 Fatty Acids essential for Hair Growth: * ALA is a short chain (18 carbon) omega-3 fatty acid. It is found in small amounts in animal flesh, in very small amounts in a variety of plant products, and in relatively large amounts in soy, walnuts, canola oil, flaxseeds and their oil, hempseed oil, camelina oil, and chia seed oil. The human body cannot make its own ALA - it must be obtained through the diet.

* EPA is a long chain (20 carbon) omega-3 fatty acid. It is found mostly in fatty fish, in small amounts in eggs, and in very small amounts in seaweed. Some EPA is converted into series 3 eicosanoids which can reduce blood clotting, inflammation, blood pressure, and cholesterol. The human body can produce EPA out of ALA and out of DHA.

* DHA is a long chain (22 carbon) omega-3 fatty acid. It is found mostly in fatty fish, in small amounts in eggs, and in very small amounts in seaweed. It is a major component of the gray matter of the brain, and also found in the retina, testis, sperm, and cell membranes. The body can convert EPA into DHA

Aside from staying away from processed junk food and eating a well-balanced diet there are a few in salon treatments and take-home regimens that can significantly help reduce hair loss and promote new hair growth

happened to be a huge fan of Oway organics a hair and skin care line that is farmed biodynamically in Italy and outsourced through fair trade networks. I have two salons where we use these products in order to contribute to an eco-friendly cruelty free salon environment that is safer for the health of myself and my guest.

In the relm of hair loss one of my favorite things to do is an in salon treatment once a week for 6 to 8 weeks. During the initial consult I determine why the hair loss is occurring in consult with my client with a game plan of how we're going to reverse this.

Although many people assume they had dandruff which can lead to hair loss many of them actually have dermatitis.

What is Seborrheic Dermatitis?

Considered a chronic form of eczema, seborrheic dermatitis appears on the body where there are a lot of oil-producing (sebaceous) glands like the upper back, nose and scalp. The exact cause of seborrheic dermatitis is unknown, although genes and hormones play a role. Microorganisms that live on the skin naturally can also contribute to seborrheic dermatitis.

People of any age can develop seborrheic dermatitis including infants (known as “cradle cap”). The triggers for seborrheic dermatitis include:

* Stress

* Hormonal changes or illness

* Harsh detergents, solvents, chemicals and soaps

* Cold, dry weather

In general, seborrheic dermatitis is slightly more common in men than in women. Patients with certain diseases that affect the immune system (such as HIV/AIDS) and the nervous system, such as Parkinson’s disease, are also at increased risk of developing seborrheic dermatitis.

Note that Seborrheic dermatitis is not contagious.

How to diagnose dermatitis <- click here

So what can you take home for help

OWAY Micro-stimulating hair bath

Anti-hair loss scalp and hair revitalising bath.

Action: It delicately cleanses, countering hair loss, aiding physiological hair growth.

Use: Apply to damp hair, massage and rinse. Repeat if necessary.

Biodynamic, organic, ethic ingredients:

Biodynamic Mint. Mint has a refreshing and revitalizing effect on micro-circulation, providing instant relief and comfort for the skin.

Organic Horse Chestnut. It improves the micro-circulation of blood vessels and encouraging the hair bulb to revitalize and strengthen.

Ethical Teak. It strengthens hair structure. Antibacterial properties.

Ethical Mahogany. Antiseptic and astringent for the skin, invigorating and energizing for the hair.

Does not contain: SLS & SLES / PARABEN / PETROLATUM / PEG, PG & BG / EDTA / SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCE / ARTIFICIAL COLORANTS.

pH 3.2 – 4.2

Prevention and treatment of hair loss through strengthening of the hair follicle and oxygenation of the scalp.

WITH BIODYNAMIC PEPPERMINT, ORGANIC HORSECHESTNUT, ETHICAL TEAK AND MAHOGANY, STEM CELLS FROM BUDDLEJA DAVIDII.

For those with sensitive scalps vilifying remedy as a leave in works well

It carries out an energising action on the piliferous bulb and increases hair strength and resistance. It favours microcirculation in the scalp and it lightly moisturizes the skin, improving the comfort of the most sensitive types of skin.

Densifying remedy strengthens the cohesion and stability of the hair shaft and bulb. It stimulates the dermal papillae to induce the growth of new hair; it favours the oxygenation of the scalp.

Active ingredients

Biodynamic Mint - Mint has a refreshing and revitalizing effect on micro-circulation, providing instant relief and comfort for the skin.

Organic Horse Chestnut - It improves the micro-circulation of blood vessels and encouraging the hair bulb to revitalize and strengthen.

Buddleja davidii (vegetable stem cells) - Help hair follicle cells reproduce improving their capacity for self-renewal.

Dynagen - An active ingredient derived from Yeast, Dynagen adds strength and nourishment to the hair. This action takes place in the anagen phase, the active moment of hair growth, in which the growing hair fiber penetrates the inner root. Through the dynamization of proteins, Dynagen stimulates the formation of new levels of keratin and collagen in the hair.

Densiplant - A complex derived from legumes, DENSIPLANT stimulates the dermal papillae for the production of new hair, acting on the molecules responsible for its birth. Rich in phospholipids and phytosterols, it increases the synthesis of the VEGFs (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors). By directly acting on the dermal papillae, these factors contribute to the formation of a vascularization network near the follicle, facilitating the supply of oxygen and other nutrients to the scalp.

Ethical Teak - It strengthens hair structure. Antibacterial properties.

Ethical Mahogany - Antiseptic and astringent for the skin, invigorating and energizing for the hair.

Does not contain

SLS & SLES / PARABEN / PETROLATUM / PEG, PG & BBG / EDTA / SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCE / ARTIFICIAL COLORANTS

NICKEL TESTED - OW performs a specific test on every production lot of this product that makes it possible to monitor production progress and any traces of nickel that may induce allergy.

In conclusion...

Never give up on your hair!

Consulting with a beauty professional and or your Dermatologist in order to diagnose and treat your hair loss is recommended.

Remember eat a well-balanced diet, avoid stressful hairstyles and avoid toxic chemicals in hopes to have the best environment to prepare for new hair growth and avoid excessive hair loss.

I hope that this blog has been helpful please reach out with any questions comments or concerns you can find me via email at tmacshairstudio@gmail.com

Likewise any stylist or salon owners interested in learning more about Oway organics can reach out to me for a consultation and evaluation of your salon needs.

Thanks for reading.

Tara McAdams-May

Regional Educator for Simply Organic Beauty

And owner of TMAC's Hair Salons

(Two organic salons in North America )